Foundation Funds Laptops for Grads

The first young women to graduate from Odyssey House's Lafayette Avenue program are the proud owners of new laptop computers given to them as commencement gifts through a grant from the Elizabeth and Barets O. Benjamin Charitable Foundation.

Two of the graduates, Kristina S. and Melina E., recently attended a presentation ceremony at the girls-only center and spoke about how life has changed for them since completing treatment and how they aim to use the computers for their future educational and professional endeavors.

For Kristina, treatment was the fresh start she was looking for. "Odyssey House gave me confidence and strength. I got my life back on track and started to think and act positively."

Today, Kristina is working full-time for a performance management firm on Wall Street and is a part-time student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice where she is studying psychology and criminal justice.

While the Lafayette Avenue program is focused on teen girls, a small number of adult female residents also live at the center where they perform an essential function as role models helping the teens transition from adolescence to young adulthood. One such role model is Melina, a program graduate and member of the 2007 Odyssey House  New York City Marathon Team.

When the girls program first opened, Melina saw an opportunity to give back what she was learning in treatment as an adult resident and volunteered to help establish the new center. She said being in treatment with the teens, helping them overcome obstacles and learn new skills, taught her how to tackle challenges in her own life.

"If I can overcome my addiction, if I can run a marathon, I know I can handle any challenge that comes my way," she said. "Once you've beaten your addiction, you realize that you can accomplish anything."

Since completing the program in April 2007, Melina has been working as a legal assistant in a Manhattan law firm. She recently had her annual review with the firm's senior partner, where she received high marks for her work performance, and got a raise. Though she is proud of her professional accomplishments, she says it is regaining custody of her eight-year-old daughter that makes her happiest.

Melina said she is grateful to the foundation for their generous gift and excited to have a computer of her own. "I'm going to keep learning and see where it goes from there," she said. "I have a bright future ahead of me, and so does my daughter."

The Lafayette Avenue program offers treatment for young women with substance abuse and other emotional/behavioral problems.  Opened in spring 2007, this gender-specific treatment approach helps teen girls get back on track with their schooling and other life goals.

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